Computer for ascertaining transportation charges.



N. P. LEARY.

COMPUTER FOR ASCERTAINING TRANSPORTATION CHARGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1914. 1 1 20,948. Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

RATE RATE RATE 1 1 2 9+ 1 lbs 2W m2 1 *1bs2 22 6 22 40 56 50 1:10 6 1.10 22 7 22 4o 57 30 1.25 7 12 witmeowo 25 s 25 4o 56 50 L 6 1.23 'EV 9 ludjgrzu J 6 73/5 efl/farngs 7 f1 5748 28 5498 41 1404855 3149 2a 55 99 +2 7.554955 N. P. LEARY.

COMPUTER FOR ASGERTAINING TRANSPORTATION CHARGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1914.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

m. 0 t M v u a N. P. LEARY.

COMPUTER FOR ASCERTAINING TRANSPORTATION CHARGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1914.

1 120,948. Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SH1JET 3.

flt'l P I mry NEIL P. LEARY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMPUTER FOR ASCERTAINING TRANSPORTATION CHARGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15,1914.

Application filed June 19, 1914. Serial No. 846,024.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Nnn. P. LEARY, a citizen of the United States, residing in 'esh ington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Computers for Ascertaining Transportation Charges, of which the following is a specification.

The present method commonly employed by transportation companies for ascertaining transportation charges 'on shipments is to refer to certain books, or pa phlets containing alphabetically arran efi nan'ies of the various ofiices, from thes obtain reference to certain tables giving the rates, and having found the proper rate table and knowing the weight, select from a separate table of charges the desired charge, or multiply the weight by the rate to ascertain the tran.-.portation charge. At present, for instance, express companies have 294 different rates {requiring 29 different tables, and these rates are divided into two classes,- first and second. In addition to these, there are numerous publications of special rates on commodities, etc. The turning of the pages to find the proper tables, the selection of the proper charge from the table and the calculation to obtain the desired transportation charge involves considerable labor and time and often results in mistakes due either to consulting the wrong rate table, the failure to select the proper charge, or to mistakes in calculation. Errors amounting to thousands of dollars in over charges and under charges commonly occur each year involving not only losses to the transportation companies, and patrons, in violation of Federal statutes and abnormal accounting costs, but also great annoyance, and recurring complaints against the companies.

To reduce to a minimum errors of this kind, and to provide means for quickly ascertaining all transportation charges accurately without resorting to calculations, I have produced an apparatus which comprises a carefully in-cpared chartinthc form of a tape divided into tables containing all,

or a selected portion, of the different charges in use. This table-carrying tape is wound on spools and is contained within a casing having an observation opening adapted to (llS- play a selected portion of one table of charges at -a time, and in connection with the table-display opening I employ a slide also having a relatively small observation opening, and this is adapted to select from the selected rate table the proper transportation charge for any desired weight or standard package. Two tape spools are employed and these are operated by a hand wheel which is connected with the spools by gearing and pawl and ratchet mechanism so organized that when the wheel is turned in one direction, one only of the spools is turned to wind the tape, and when turned in the opposite direction the other spool is operated to wind the tape, while the first designated spool runs free and permits the tape to be unwound therefrom. The construction is such that the tape may, when desired, be moved at high speed and very quickly bring to view the proper rate table,

and then knowing the weight or standard package of the shipment the transportation charge for such shipment to its destination can be quickly ascertained by moving the slide to a position over the properly designated weight or standard package, indicated on the selected table.

It will be understood therefore that the invention involves; first, a chart containing tables for the selected rates, these tables being carefully calculated and made permanent and requirin no calculations on the part of the user of the apparatusflSecond, means for bringing to an observation point the required table by easily operated and quick acting mechanism; and third, a device for selecting from the selected table the transportation charge for the shipment.

y improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for ascertaining transportation charges, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view, with parts broken away, of a sample chart containing certain rate tables. Fig. 3 shows a vertical central section of the apparatus on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a horizontal section thereof on the line -l-l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view, in vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of part of the mechanism showing particularly a sample tape or chart carrying rate tables,

the tape spools and guide rollers and the observation opening in the top of the casing. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the slide. Fig. 6 is a detailview, in vertical section, showing parts of the mechanism for actuating the tape spools. Fig. 7 shows a vertical section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The frame of the apparatus may be of any suitable form and construction, but preferably it consists of a casting having a skeleton bottom or base, comprising the bottom ring a and the cross pieces 'a'; cylindrical sides I) having openings at b b and a top ring C. These parts may all be made by a single casting and the bottom of the frame may be covered by a sheet metal plate a detachably secured in place by screws a. The openings b, b may metal plates B, B, held in place by screws 5*. The frame is of general cylindrical shape, but as shown has on one side a lateral extension A to accommodate certain gearing heretofore referred to.

\Vithin the casing are mounted two spools D, E, which support a chart F of a tape having displayed thereon a series of rate tables, for instance, of the kind shown in Fig. 2. This tape is preferably made of cloth or other suitable material and in practice is about thirty-six feet in length, although the length may vary within wide limits, and a little over twelve inches wide,

but the width may vary. The tape spools D, E are supported by two brackets G (Fig. 5) connected as shown in Fi s. 3 and 5 to angle bars H which have a siding connection with angle bars H attached to the base of the frame. The spools are suitably spaced and the tape passes upwardly from the rolls and over guide rollers I, mounted in open bearings t at the topof the brackets G. The brackets are cast with recesses g which receive cylindrical bushings g in which the pivots d, e of the spools D and E have their bearings. held in lace by split pins 9 and may be easily li ted out when desired. Ball bearings are referably employed, but as these may be 0 any desired construction they are not illustrated.

The top ring C of the frame is formed with a flan e c on which'rests the peri heral flange m of the top plate M and this ate is held in place by a ring N, secured tot e ring C by screws n. The plate M is slightly dished, as shown, and it is formed with an observation opening M covered by a plate of glass 0 held in place by a rectangular frame 0' resting on metal strips 0 secured to the top plate M. A slide P having an observatlon opening p is mounted 'on the frame 0' and may be moved back and forth thereon. It is held in place on said frame by springs p which extend under the edges of be covered by sheet" in the form These bushings are the frame. The slide is marked to indicate lbs, and 1st and 2nd class rates or made to indicate other measures of quantity and appropriate rates or charges.

Q indicates a hand wheel for operating the mechanism. It is of largediameter and is preferably horizontally arranged on the top of the apparatus within convenient reach of the operator when using the device. The grip portion q of the wheel is rounded so as to be easily grasped and it is formed with a laterally projecting annular portion 9' which rests on anti-friction balls g in a race-way formed in the ring C. The hand wheel is held in place by the ring N and by two detachable semi-annular plates R, secured to the top ringrC in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3. he flange g is forined with a peripheral series of teeth which engage a pinion 8 on the vertical shaft S, mounted in bearings in the extension A of the frame and carrying a pinion s engaging another pinion s on a horizontally arranged shaft S mounted in bearings midway between the axes of the spools D and E. Preferabl the shaft has its bearings in cylindrical caring blocks 13, mounted in the brackets T. These blocks may be provided with ball bearings of usual construction.

To the shaft S is secured a pawl-carrying wheel U of cylindrical form provided with pins or pawls u which are pressed radially outward by springs u. The wheel U is surrounded by two spur wheels V, V, one

of which, V, engages a pinion 'v on the spool E and the other of which, V, engages a pinion 'v' on the spool D. The wheels, V, V, are arranged side by side and are independently movable. When the shaft S is turned in one direction only the wheel V is turned and when the shaft S is turned in the opposite direction the wheel V alone is operated. This' is effected by forming in each wheel recesses 10 and corresponding shoulders 'w' oppositely arranged in such manner that when the wheel U is turned in one direction the pawls will engage the shoulders and turn the wheel which surrounds them, but when the shaft is turned in the opposite direction the pawlsare depressed or moved radially inward and the surrounding wheel remains stationary. As clearly shown in Fig. 6 thereis a set of pawls for each'ofthe wheels V, V and the two sets"of pa,'w1sare arranged side by side.

The chart 'or tape F is of sufficient length to display the requisite number of rate scales or tables. The opposite ends of the tape are secured to the spools D and E and the tape is guided across the rollers I beneath the observation'opening in the manner hereinafter ex lained,

' outer columns contain designations of the charges for each number of pounds for both first and second class shipments.

The apparatus is operated entirely by the manipulation of the hand wheel Q, and the slide P. By turning the wheel Q, in vthe proper direction the desired rate table may be brought to view at the observation opening M and because of the large diameter of the wheel Q and the small size of the pinion s the tape may be very rapidly operated if desired. If desired the wheel Q, may be operated by power. The shipment is of course first weighed and the place of destination being known the proper rate table if not already known is found from a suitable list "and then the wheel Q is operated to bring the desired table to view. Then the slide P ismoved until the number indicating the weight is displayed through the opening 1) and then the transportation charge for both,

first and second classes is shown on oppo site sides of the weight number.

It will thus be seen that by my improvements the handling or turning of various sheets or pages and the usualcalculations to ascertain rates, charges, etc. are avoided. In my invention the calculations are all accur'ately made in advance and are permanent, and it is only necessary to operate the hand wheel, bring the proper rate table to view and to'm'ove the slide to the proper point to show the charges on any desired weight, or standard package.

So far as I am aware I am the first to provide an apparatus for thus rapidly and accurately ascertaining transportation charges and while I have shown an eflicient way of embodying my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the apparatus shown and described, as vari- -ations therefrom may be made without departing from the novel features of my invention.

It'will be observed that in the apparatus shown the parts are so constructed that they tachably connected with the base of the frame. The angle bars H are fastened to the base of the frame while the bars H have a sliding connection with the angle bars as clearly illustrated. This connection is close so that there is no tendency for the brackets to move out of place accidentally but when it is desired to remove the brackets, spools and tape it can be done by merely taking off the cover plate B and sliding the brackets, spools, etc. bodily out of the frame. By removing the cover plate B the gearing between the hand wheel and the tape spool opcrating mechanism may also be reached with ease and the hand wheel and top plate of the apparatus are also made detachable and readily replaceable. When the tape is moved to bring to view the selected rate table the entire table is visible and the rates for any number of pounds in this table may be seen, but there is always danger of mistake in inspecting a table in this way and selecting a rate, and in order to avoid any possibility of errorthe slide P is employed, the opening in which is just sufiicient to expose a single designation for the weight and single designations for the charges on same. In this way any possibility of error is avoided. The tapev rolls and tape being readily removable, the tape may be easily removed and replaced by another tape of a difierent design or of different arrangement if at any time required.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for ascertaining trans portation charges, comprising a casing having an observation opening, a chart adapted to move beneath said observation opening, a chart mounting withiiithe casing, a handwheel surrounding the observation opening and supported on the casing, and gearing connecting the hand-wheel with the chart mounting for moving the chart.

'2. An apparatus for ascertaining transportation charges, comprising a casing having an observation opening, a chart containing a series of rate tables adapted to move within the casing beneath said observation opening, a chart mounting within the easing on which the chart is supported, a handwheel having a peripheral series of teeth supported on the casing and surrounding the observation opening, and gearing connecting the hand-wheel with the chart mounting for moving the chart.

3. An apparatus for ascertaining transportation charges, comprising a casing rovided with an annular top rim, a top p ate secured at its edges to the top rim and having an elongated observation opening, a chart mounted within the casing and adapted to move beneath said observation opening, a hand-wheel supported by the top rim and having an annular series of teeth,. and

' gearing operated by the hand-Wheel for slon of the casing connecting the chart moving the chart. mounting with the hand-wheel. 10 4. Anapparatus'for ascertaining transpor- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto tation. charges, comprising a casing having subscribed my name.

a top rim and a lateral extension on one NEIL P. LEARY.

side, a chart mounting within the casing, a Witnesses:

toothed hand-wheel supported'on the top BURR N. EDWARDS,

rim, and gearing within the lateral exten- CoRA H. T ACY.

caplet at this patent maybe obtatned'for five cents each, by addreuing the Commissioner of intents, Wuhington; D. G." 

